Flights from ‘red list’ countries cancelled due to Omicron

FILIPINO WORKERS who are bound for countries included in the Philippines' so-called 'red list' due to the threat of the new Covid-19 variant called Omicron will not be able to travel to their host nations for now after the government cancelled all flights to those places, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.

“Based on the latest IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolution, the national government said all international flights from countries with cases of Omicron are cancelled. Since they are on the red list, all incoming flights are cancelled and once all international flights are cancelled, there will be no outbound flights as well. Our OFWs bound for these countries are barred from leaving as per IATF resolution,” said POEA chief Bernard Olalia.

From Nov.28-Dec. 15, the entry of travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy into the country is prohibited.

Only Filipinos returning to the country via government-initiated or non-government-initiated repatriation and Bayanihan Flights may be allowed entry subject to the prevailing entry, testing, and quarantine protocols for 'red list' countries/jurisdictions/territories.

Olalia said OFWs who are taking their Christmas vacation from 'red list' countries will be allowed in the country subject to health protocols. 

“We also have protocols for those coming from those countries. It is very important because they will be home for Christmas. If you come from that country, if the flight is government-initiated or NGO-initiated, you will be allowed to land here, if you are OFWs. We have quarantine protocols where you have to undergo quarantine for 14 days and test for Covid-19 before they are allowed to return to your provinces,” he said. (Ferdinand Patinio)